In a move to stave off precedent, town council has defeated a motion to relax a six per cent property tax penalty on one individual case.
At town council's Sept. 12 regular meeting members of the corporate services department introduced a property tax penalty exemption for a case in the amount of $104.20.
Council members were told there was a tax penalty bylaw that stipulates there will be a six per cent penalty on all current taxes remaining unpaid at the end of the last business day in June, along with an additional penalty of six per cent on all current taxes remaining unpaid at the end of the last business day in September.
Administration said in its report that each year numerous taxpayers submit payment after the tax payment deadline for various reasons, and that this year about 15 per cent of the property tax accounts were not paid.
The report went on to say the intent of the bylaw is to ensure each owner is treated equally and that citizens have the responsibility to meet their payment obligations.
Council members unanimously agreed, arguing that to relax just one case would set an unfair precedent.
